Threats to Digital Equity Act Programs Will Leave Veterans Disconnected

Passed in 2021 as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Digital Equity Act established three grant programs to help close the digital divide by facilitating broadband adoption, implementing digital skills training programs, making internet-connected devices more available, and creating and improving public access computing centers. State broadband offices have spent over three years working on plans to close the digital divide among eight “covered populations,” including veterans. Now, the Trump Administration is slowing the process of getting resources promised to the states. For many Veterans, this will mean longer time spent without adequate or affordable broadband, a lack of access to digital skills training, and fewer opportunities to reap the benefits of telehealth services.